Hydrogen Safety Joint With Initial-Stage Socket Flow Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joints for emergency releasing of hydrogen gas filling apparatuses allow outgas during the initial stage of disconnection, leading to equipment damage and increased costs due to lost parts.
Innovation Solution
A safety joint with a cylindrical nozzle side member and a filling apparatus side member featuring a flow path blocking mechanism, including a valve body, elastic member, and support member, which instantly shuts off the flow path when the nozzle side member disconnects, utilizing sealing materials to prevent gas leakage and a rotational shape member with a folded-back portion to prevent part interference and loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plug is disconnected from the socket to enable emergency releasing, then the filling apparatus and filling nozzle are protected from damage, but high-pressure hydrogen gas flows out as outgas causing equipment damage and part loss
Solution Approach 1:
The socket side shutoff valve is designed to close automatically at the initial stage of plug disconnection, before the plug fully separates from the socket. This preliminary action prevents outgas by shutting off the flow path in advance, eliminating the harmful gas flow that would otherwise occur during emergency releasing.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket side shutoff valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the plug and socket connection system and the external environment. It mediates the transition from connected to disconnected state by controlling the flow path, ensuring that gas does not leak during the disconnection process while still allowing emergency releasing to occur.
2Productivity
If the plug and socket are connected to enable hydrogen gas filling, then gas can be supplied efficiently, but the socket side valve stem placement on the valve stem or cover member causes valve body separation from valve seat during initial disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The rod accommodating case serves as an intermediary structure that receives and guides the valve stem during connection and disconnection operations. It provides a controlled environment for the valve stem movement, preventing the valve body from separating from the valve seat during the critical initial disconnection phase while maintaining efficient gas filling during normal operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The safety joint effectively suppresses outgas and prevents part loss by instantly shutting off the flow path during disconnection, allowing all components to be reused and reducing equipment damage and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a valve body (25) provided in the flow path (21A) of the filling apparatus side member (20), an elastic member (23) on the filling apparatus side that urges the valve body (25)
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a safety joint that can immediately shut off a hydrogen gas flow path at the initial stage when a plug (nozzle side member) comes out of a socket (fueling apparatus side member) to prevent release of outgas. A safety joint (100, 100-1) of the present invention includes: a plug (10) with a flow path (1A) formed inside, a shutoff valve (5) of the plug (10) opens when connected to a socket (20); and the socket (20), a flow path (21A) in communication with the flow path (1A) is formed when connected to the plug (10); and when the plug (10) is disconnected from the socket (20), the flow paths (1A, 21A) of the plug (10) and the socket (20) are shut off, wherein the socket has an opening (21C) that communicates with the flow path (21A) and extends orthogonally to the flow path (21A); when the plug and the socket are connected, a protruding portion (3) of the plug is inserted into the opening; and a socket flow path blocking mechanism (30, 31) is provided to instantly close the flow path (21A) at an initial stage when the plug is disconnected from the socket.